Regicide

Excuse me for asking, but what exactly does regicide mean?"

(art of regicide here)

reg·i·cide
/ˈrejəˌsīd/

noun
the action of killing a king.

"Seize him!" a voice barked. "Don't let him get away!" another howled. The scratch of paws on gravel filled the night, an aura of distress seeping through the air. Two knights were following after Regicide, chasing him. Regicide, on the other hand, was simply trotting along until he reached Cliff's Peak. Once there, he turned around, his eyes meeting the knights.
"Give it up, D.C. There's nowhere to run now. Just tell us what you did with King Basileios," the first knight, Lancelot, demanded. "Y-yeah! Tell us what you did!" the second taunted. With this, Regicide let out a low, sinister laugh. "Lancelot and Finnean. Finnean and Lancelot," Regicide giggled. "You want to know what I did to your king?" Lancelot growled and snapped at Regicide. "D.C., tell us now, before I-" Regicide brought his paw up and slashed Lancelot's muzzle, causing him to stumble backwards with his ears down. "Shut your mouth! Never call me that again," Regicide snarled. "D.C. Blasted Deputy Commander," he spit. "All my life, I have been waiting so patiently for the crown, the throne, the palace! Just for it to be taken from me- no, stolen by a useless, lowlife commoner!" Regicide stamped his right paw on the ground. "Your insolent, foolish king didn't see my potential, the way I've been groomed since birth to be his successor. He gave away my destiny. Now he must pay the price," he huffed. Terrified, Finnean whimpered, "A-are you saying you k-killed...?" Regicide snarled at the smaller wolf, his muzzle directly in front of Finnean's face. "You spoiled the surprise. It's such a shame that you must meet the same fate as Basileios."

The metallic thud of two bodies hitting gravel echoed in Regicide's ears, humming in delight. He licked his paws clean, the taste of rust on his muzzle. Regicide trots a tad further into Cliff's Peak, until he sees a familiar wolf tied with rope. A wolf with a cape. With a crown. "D.C. how could you?" the wolf sputters. "I- I thought I could trust you!" Regicide tisked at the wolf, shaking his head. "Maybe next time, don't be a selfish prick and you give me what I deserve. Oh, wait," Regicide giggles. "You don't get a next time." With a slash of his black claws, Regicide slits Basileios' throat, leaving him to die. "Oop, musn't forget about this," he hums. Regicide adjusts the gold crown on his head, admiring himself in a shiny stone. "Why must all the greatest killers be so handsome?" he muses to himself. With that, Regicide makes his way back into the kingdom to break the oh-so-sad news.
He almost gallops to the throne, remembering that he's meant to play bereavement. He sits down solemnly, temporarily taking off his crown. "Dearly beloved citizens, it is with a heavy heart to tell you that King Basileios... is dead." A flurry of gasps and choked weeps spreads through the crowd of wolves. "In addition, two knights in our Order of Chivalry have been slaughtered. Knight Lancelot and Knight Finnean." A wolf breaks down with a sob, another comforting them. "These knights were...so brave. And they, along with Basileios, will be greatly missed," Regicide croons, a single tear slipping from his eye as he bowed his head. "In the meantime, it is time for our next course of action- the new king. As the former... Deputy Commander... I think it is only best if I step up to lead. It's what the King would have wanted." The Grand Cross nodded his head in agreement. "Now. Let us raise our heads and howl for our fallen tonight." The Grand Cross tipped his head and lets out a low howl. Soon after, the citizens howl with him. Finally, with a wicked gleam in his eyes, Regicide howls. It's sharp and stone-cold. Lowering his head to its normal position, Regicide dismisses the citizens, knights, and royals, leaving him alone with the Grand Cross. He leans his back against the armrest of the throne, crossing his paws. "Say, Alistair?" Regicide purrs to the Grand Cross. "Do you know how to keep a secret?" Looking around, Alistair nods his head. "Good, good. I've decided on my new title. I will not be called D.C. anymore," Regicide grins. "I want everyone to address me as King Regicide." Alistair flicks his ears in approval. "Quite regal, sir." Alistair nervously paws at the ground. "Excuse me for asking, but what does Regicide mean?" Regicide laughs, a low rumble emitting from his throat. "It's the action of killing a king.